Don't worry, it was under the most adverse conditions and it was more a test of foolhardiness than man or machine. I lost but I'm not a fool. The challenger was on a 600 and playing the only game one could play on that bike on that road on this particular occassion.
As is my usual custom, I came roaring up to the expressway on a nice long ramp. I slowed down to blend with traffic which was heavy. It wasn't 3 seconds and I hear this ungodly, blood curdling scream over my left shoulder. It was as fearsome of a sound as you ever will hear. Glancing down, I see a blur flash through my mirror and then steak past me on the left. It was a kid on a skinny wheeled 600 with an under seat exhaust. His calf skin coat was all ballooned up. At least he had on a helmet. I dropped to 5th and had no problem catching him but then we came up on traffic. I stayed behind him waiting for some open road. This has been my only challenge this season and I was hoping to see a little action. I figured we might do some lane changing chase and then I'd finish him off when we got into light traffic. He waited a while with me tailing him and then he made a break for it between cars. He made a few zigs and zags and was gone. No way do I play that game. I am always concerned that some cager is going to panic and swerve into me or something. I let him go. I don't go snaking through traffic 10 feet apart, ever.
I was hoping to find an open spot and catch him again but after a minute or two went by, I knew I didn't have much hope. I couldn't see him up ahead any more at all. I came to an exit onto 94 West and decided to try it. I guessed right. There was a bike way ahead and it looked like it could be him. I spent the next 25 miles trying to catch up to him but just as I was close, there he goes up an exit and I'm still down on the highway. It was him. I would have just loved to see his face if I could have pulled up to him at the end of the exit ramp.
Oh well. The kid had balls, I'll give him that. Hope he lives long enough to use them for what god intended.
Rook